Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Cervical Cancer among women residing in an Urban area of Y.S.R. Kadapa: A Community-based Cross-sectional study

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women in India. Despite the availability of effective screening methods and HPV vaccination, their utilisation remains low due to inadequate awareness and socio-cultural barriers. This study aimed to assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) regarding cervical cancer among women in an urban area of Y.S.R. Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh
Material and Methods:
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2023 among 424 women aged 25–60 years using multi-stage random sampling. Data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire by the face-to-face interview technique. Statistical analysis was performed using Epi Info, and associations were tested using the Chi-square test/Fisher’s exact test (p<0.05).
Results: The majority (89.6%) of participants had poor knowledge, while only 1.9% had good knowledge regarding cervical cancer. However, 63.4% showed a positive attitude towards prevention. Screening practices were extremely low, with only 0.7% ever screened and none vaccinated against HPV. The major barriers identified were lack of awareness (43.2%) and perceived lack of need (30.6%). Only 27.6% expressed willingness for future screening. Significant associations were observed between knowledge and selected socio-demographic factors.
Conclusion: There exists a substantial gap between knowledge and preventive practices. Improving awareness through targeted health education, addressing misconceptions, and enhancing accessibility to screening and vaccination services are crucial for effective cervical cancer prevention.